I May Drive a Van, but Im No Soccer Mom.

Long story short - we inherited a minivan. Buying a van was on the list of things to eventually buy. Like when Hell froze over. I did months of research on narrow child seats for my Buick. I found a model that I could fit 3 across the backseat with. Sure, we were smashed together like sardines in a neat little can, but dammit we all fit.

Part of me didn't want a van because it would mess up my super cool, rocker image. Ha! I drove a Buick - rockers don't drive Buicks! I was only fooling myself.

Friday afternoon I went to the Secretary of State to get the van all legal and junk. The people working at the SOS (DMV) were apparently abducted by aliens and replaced with extremely friendly, uber efficient cyborgs. I was 11th in line and was in and out in 15 minutes. I had 3 things to be done - transfer the title, the plate, and change an address on a registration that they neglected to do 6 years ago when I got married. It was awesome. I feel badly for those who have to deal with the normal SOS/DMV employees on Monday. I was lucky and got there during the abduction day.

I get home and we get the kids ready to go for a ride in "mommy's new car". First let me profess my love of the LATCH system. It took 5 minutes to get each seat in the van, rock solid. Love. The kids love the new car. I love the new car. I am still not a soccer mom. Believe it or not, the radio in a minivan does actually play hard rock. I felt a twinge of guilt when I erased grandpa's easy listening and country stations but I am sure he wouldn't want my ears to bleed all over.

I wish it didn't take my grandfather passing away for me to finally succumb to the need for a bigger vehicle, but I am glad I get to drive it. Thanks to my uncles, aunt and dad for thinking of me and thank you to grandpa for taking AMAZING care of his vehicles. He understood my way of thinking - we don't like car payments, we drive cars until they are not worth repairing anymore, my husband works for an auto parts supplier and our mechanic takes payment in beer form. :)

In closing, if you see a minivan cruise by with the sounds of amazing guitar riffs or the driver singing Korn, Guns N Roses, or anything on WKLQ loudly...no need to stare, it is just a normal (albeit crazy) mom trying to hang on to one last bit of coolness while her kids still think she rocks!